Failed presidential candidate and putative GOP kingmaker Mitt Romney hosted a weekend getaway for his approved list of GOP hopefuls, complete with a dawn yoga session led by Romney’s wife Ann and political reporter Mark Halperin.
The weekend offered Mitt’s chosen ones the opportunity to rub shoulders with GOP moneymen. Hardcore social conservatives, however, did not seem to be welcome.
Among those missing from the event — sponsored by Romney’s son’s private equity firm Solamere — were Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Rick Santorum, and Dr. Ben Carson.
Besides Senator Marco Rubio cavorting in his gym shorts and Senator Lindsey Graham’s quips and skeet shooting, perhaps the highlight of the event was the morning yoga session.
It is clear from the event, at the Chateaux at Silver Lake at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, that Romney and the GOP moneymen want to anoint an acceptable mainstream candidate early on and avoid the unsightly spectacle of someone like Rick Santorum going all the way through primary season as he did against Romney in 2012, winning 11 primaries and caucuses.
It is reported that Romney led an evening session on foreign policy, leading some to speculate he’s angling for Secretary of State.
It is also reported that Romney invited Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, and Bernie Sanders, all of whom declined.
But, did he invite Cruz, Santorum, et al?
Follow Austin Ruse on Twitter @austinruse
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.